The Harmful Effects of Social Media for Entrepreneurs

Social media is here to stay, and as a marketing agency owner I am not saying that it should disappear. However, - just like with everything - how you use it matters more than the platform. While some entrepreneurs are taking social media posts and claims with a "pinch of salt", others - like I used to - think that everyone's just as honest as they are. And this can have devastating consequences on your mental health and business as an entrepreneur. Here are some of the points and tips on how to avoid the bad side of social media use as an entrepreneur.

1. Information Overload: One of the biggest ones is information overload. We've been suffering from this for a while, but with more content available every day, you will definitely exhaust your brain's capacity in just half an hour of browsing social media feeds. I have mentioned before that sometimes putting on your blinkers and having a tunnel vision can help you as an entrepreneur. However, you've got to find the balance between gathering information and data and focusing on your vision. It's a fine balance only a few can achieve.
2. Shiny object syndrome: I can see this among entrepreneurs we talk to quite often: the next online tool, the next AI chatbot, the next growth hacking webinar is the "Answer to all the prayers", according to them. This is an especially harmful thought. In fact, I would compare this to gambling: people put all their chips on one number then when they don't win they carry on putting the remainder on another, and that continues until they run out of money. The good news is that there are some evergreen marketing methods that will help you stay on track.
3. Distraction and Procrastination: Turning off your social media notifications when you're working ON your goals is a good practice. There are several tools and browser plugins that help you do that. For example, Pomodoro has a Chrome plugin that lets you block all social media access on your computer while you are in "focus time". It is a great tool if you want to stay disciplined and want to avoid distraction. Not only from funny cat videos, but also your competitors bragging about their latest achievements.
4. Negative Feedback and Trolls: This is a big one. There will always be people who don't want you to succeed, and you don't want to let them in. Especially not when you are trying to make it. Negativity kills your motivation and weakens your abilities, cognitive skills. Not to mention that it damages your self esteem. Find a way to deal with these events as swiftly and effectively as possible. If you feel like you are being pulled into a drama and feel like you want to reply something that can backfire, there's always AI. Artificial intelligence has the ability to take the edge out of your content, as it lacks emotional intelligence.
5. Authenticity Pressure: Unfortunately, there are loads of people who pretend to be much bigger, more successful, more knowledgeable, etc. than they really are. Their posts mainly feed their ego, but also damage your self worth. You'll end up comparing your reality with someone else's imaginary world. And that's dangerous and will end in tears. On the other hand, if you try to create a successful online persona and you're not living up to the image, you'll eventually end up beating yourself up.
6. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): As an entrepreneur, you've got to know the trends. But don't become obsessed with them. If someone's doing a podcast and tells you that they are making millions after just a few months, you might be tempted to abandon all your existing projects and follow them. However, the question is: is that method going to get you better results? Also, is it suitable for your way of communicating your message? I know that writing is my main way of creating content, and I will never be a YouTuber. But I dabble with videos as side projects, without abandoning blogging and newsletter creation.

Before you jump on the next trend, ask yourself whether starting it from scratch will deliver you better results than carrying on with your current focus.

7. Comparison Trap: Social media often showcases only the highlights of others' lives and businesses. It is the "nice face" of the apple instead of the other one. Entrepreneurs can fall into the trap of comparing their behind-the-scenes struggles to the visible success of others. This can result in imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and low self esteem.

Conclusion

I truly hope that this reminder will help you utilise social media for good, and avoid the mistakes many entrepreneurs make when getting caught up in other people's posts.

Have you got more tips on social media use for entrepreneurs? Please share them below.